The tea party's perception problem

The other day I had the pleasure of speaking to Mid-Michigan Patriots, the local tea party group.

I have always thought of myself as one who was in the tea party before there was a tea party (note the lower case usage).

The problem with today’s tea party is that some of its leaders are self-anointed types, who have hijacked what was an organic movement. As a result, those who claim to speak for the tea party often are speaking for their own self-interest.

Some of these voices are front groups that enrich the pockets of those who claim a national leadership position — often at the expense of the much-maligned establishment or the nearly extinct creatures otherwise known as a RINOs, Republicans-in-name-only. Then there are those who seek to impose a sort of papal dogma, in which they would be the ultimate decider of who is and isn’t a conservative.

In my remarks, I emphasized the importance of local tea party members being their own voice, and of accepting and not denying the major messaging problem facing conservatism. Conservative leaders and politicians seldom articulate an optimistic message. Instead, they are always on the defensive, as they have allowed the left to define the narrative.

Having this discussion isn’t easy when some use what is said to raise money off the purported existence of a RINO in the ranks. As a result, critical issues are going unaddressed because many prominent conservatives are afraid of those who will accuse them of abandoning core principles.

Take Obamacare, which never can be discussed without some mobster calling for a politician to be tarred and feathered for acknowledging what is the law of the land.

This happened recently, when congressional Republican leadership tried to push a bill forcing Democrats to vote against helping Americans with pre-existing medical conditions.

Despite being a brilliant political move it never was executed, because many conservatives considered it a vote in support of Obamacare and thus due cause to propel a challenger and force a campaign for renomination at the primary election.

The same message problems extend to other issues, including education and the environment.

A conservationist is instinctively conservative. But the environment is an issue that — much like health care — conservatives have abandoned, thereby allowing the left to own it.

Education is an area where conservatives have achieved some success, but still struggle against the libertarian-fueled perception that they are against public schools.

Any conservative who is confronted with a question about their view of education should say something such as this: “Public schools serve a vital purpose and parents must be empowered to make choices in determining what is best for their children’s future.”

Are there exceptional public schools? Absolutely. Are there horrendous private or charter schools? Without out a doubt. But the issue is the perception — genuine or not — that conservatives are against public education and discreetly will use their power, should they find themselves the victors of an election, to do away with it.